Wednesday, October 8, 2008

Reflecting: UNITY


How do we begin to sum up an experience that has taught us and touched so much?
We’ve walked a road in which we’ve learned about war and violence, oppression from government past and present, class disparity and social rejection, of natural disaster, and disease. But we’ve also walked a road that has shown us the magnitude of simple joys, hospitality, the resilience of people through faith and hope, and of God’s goodness and beauty that refuses to be ever completely extinguished.

I struggle most with knowing how to conclude. I speak for all of us when I say that we want to give you this package bursting with all we’ve learned and all the ways we’ve changed and want other to change. But how to present this package to you. What’s next?


I don’t have a concise answer to follow here. Don’t get your hopes up.
I’ve chosen one single simple verse from psalm 133 which says:

1 How good and pleasant it is when brothers and sisters live together in unity!

Unity. Unity. I seems so simple. But it means so much or would mean so much for people in Guatemala and for our own lives here.


To live in unity means, to have peace and respect for others, to share equally so that divisions aren’t made, to be in community and love with one another. What would our cultural landscapes in Guatamala and here in Canada look like, if people lived in genuine unity?

As a group anxious to move forward with what we’ve learned, we ask you to join with us in critiquing our lives to determine ways in which we don’t live in unity with others. Whether this be the way we treat people next door, or from different social status or how our actions and lifestyle choices impact those further away from us, in places like central America.

Reflecting on the trip: LIBERATION



So, towards the end of our trip in Guate, we had the opportunity to climb a volcano. We hiked over rivers, through forest, past wild bulls and up extremely steep slopes. It was a really big hike and by the time we reached the top we were exhausted. It was really draining but when we finally got there we were rewarded by a breathtaking view of Guatemala, Mexico and beyond. The air was clear and you could see forever.

In Guatemala, there is a lot of poverty and unfortunate communities. Every day the people there have to put forth an effort to survive. To work for the necessities needed to live, the basics. This is something that we, the middle class of North America would find extremely stressful if we had to worry about: whether we would have enough food for our family all week, or whether the rain that occurs there every day would continue non-stop and cause a mudslide. These are things they have to be concerned about. Here at home, we don't have these things to worry about. We stress over things like money, and clothes. Or what school we're going to go to, or our car insurance. All these material things. We don't need a lot of these things or else we really don't need to worry about them. Our society is based on outward appearance and material possessions. We are constantly bombarded by the media and other consuming messages. We are brainwashed to think so many things about ourselves and each other that aren't right. We are practically strangled by our culture.

I think that this is part of the reason why people are so much more open to the concept of God and Christianity in Guatemala. Because we worry about such material things, it goes to show how much we have and how little we have to worry about. We are SO blessed. But because of this, we feel less inclined to rely on God because we don't think we have to. It was so much easier to decipher right from wrong in Guatemala. People in Guatemala are so focussed on the truth and what needs to be done. How we need to change to change the world. One of the major quotes we went by on our trip was one we learned even before we went. We liked to think of it as our theme quote, kind of what our goal was. It went like this,

"If you've come here to help me, then you're wasting your time. But if you've come here because your liberation is tied to mine, then walk alongside me."

Isn't that what it's all about? If your liberation is tied to mine, then walk alongside me. This quote recognizes that each society struggles with and suffers from different afflictions. Guatemalans may be poor materially, but we here in North American are poor spiritually and suffer from this.

In John 14, Jesus says, "I am the way and the truth and the life." Freedom is truth. And truth is Jesus. Doesn't the bible say that the 'truth will set you free?' I think it will. Jesus wants us to work together for truth, so that we can be free and in relationship with him. In Guatemala seeking truth means working against injustices in their country. Here in North America, we suffer from our lifestyles of overconsumption and reliance on money. It leads us into to loneliness, damaged relationships, depression, unsatisfication. . So maybe here as Canadians, searching for truth is eliminating the unnecessary material desires that lead us away from true fulfilment. We can only get true fulfillment through Jesus.

Just like climbing that mountain was exhausting, wearisome, and a test of our endurance, so is this climb towards freedom. Even when you can't see the top, and the path ahead looks way too steep to carry on, once we get to the top, everything will be clear to us, just as the top of the volcano was. The way of Jesus is so clear, and that is what we are searching for. Juan-Pablo, and incredible man working with MCC reminded us of something that day. God has made us so that we can do this. He told us that he has created us to have strength like Samson, courage like David, wisdom like Solomon, and humility like David. And with characteristics like these, I think we can find Truth.

- Sarah Steiner

Sunday, October 5, 2008

Host Families




The most memorable part of our trip was staying with host families in Panabaj (near Lake Atitlan) and in San Marcos. We never ceased to be astounded by the hospitality, generousity, and openess in which they received us.